die Schlaftablette
sleeping pill
A medication in the form of a tablet intended to help someone fall asleep or make them drowsy.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Schlafengehen nahm sie eine Schlaftablette.
She took a sleeping pill before going to bed.
die Schlaftablette
sleeping pill
die Schlaftablette, die Schlaftabletten
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Meanings
die Schlaftablette
bore
Informally, a boring or uninteresting person.
EXAMPLE
Er ist bei Partys eine echte Schlaftablette.
He's a real bore at parties.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Schlaftablette, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Schlaftabletten |
| genitive | der Schlaftablette |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Schlaftablette | die Schlaftabletten |
| accusative | die Schlaftablette | die Schlaftabletten |
| dative | der Schlaftablette | den Schlaftabletten |
| genitive | der Schlaftablette | der Schlaftabletten |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Compound word
'Schlaftablette' (sleeping pill) is made up of 'Schlaf' (sleep) and 'Tablette' (tablet). The first component describes what the tablet is intended for.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt verschrieb ihm eine Schlaftablette.
The doctor prescribed him a sleeping pill.
Typical collocations
In its medical meaning, 'Schlaftablette' (sleeping pill) frequently occurs with verbs such as 'nehmen' (to take), 'verschreiben' (to prescribe), and 'einnehmen' (to take). The sentence often states when or why someone takes it.
EXAMPLE
Sie wollte nicht jede Nacht eine Schlaftablette nehmen.
She didn't want to take a sleeping pill every night.
Colloquial meaning
The figurative meaning is colloquial and is usually used with intensifiers such as 'eine echte' (a real) or 'eine totale' (a total). Context involving people, conversations, or parties shows that no medicine is meant.
EXAMPLE
Ihr neuer Freund ist eine totale Schlaftablette – er redet nur über Steuern.
Her new boyfriend is a total bore—he only talks about taxes.
In real life
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